Written by Tyne Johnson Dhillon
NEW ALBUM DESCRIBED AS A "MUSICAL BATH IN SULPHURIC ACID"
Birmingham-based extreme metal band Anaal Nathrakh is back with their eleventh studio album Endarkenment, released through Metal Blade Records. The band perfectly describes their new record as a “musical bath in sulphuric acid.” This holds true as Endarkenment is loaded with uncompromising aggression.
“It’s savage as fuck,” says vocalist Dave Hunt, “but memorable, and accentuated with melody, in a way that barely anyone else does like we do.”
It’s clear that this album is here to send a message. This release is for those who want to bask in the madness and foulness born from the rejection of enlightenment. It’s for the type of listener who finds satisfaction through extreme chaos. With this latest release, Anaal Nathrakh put themselves firmly at the crossroads of nihilism and destruction. Endarkenment proclaims the dawning of a new era, one overflowing with distrust, hatred and reckless abandon.
“The bottom line is that these are darkening times,” says Hunt. “There are songs with references to AI, to people’s reactions to others being sentenced to death, to different ways one might respond to tyranny, to Walter Benjamin and fascism, and even to Monty Python.”
A special feature with this album is the addition of a booklet containing lyrics snippets and song inspiration. Anaal Nathrakh kept lyrics unreleased in the past. This is an invitation to interested listeners to dive into the inspiration behind the album’s notable tracks to unpack their meaning. The band was intent on giving listeners a lot to think about.
“We have been a bit more open than usual on this album,” says Hunt. “Hopefully people who enjoy that kind of thing will be able to get their teeth into it all and get something out of thinking about it all for themselves.”
Endarkenment is available everywhere now.